Atlantic Council at the G20

History of the G20

The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic and financial cooperation. Founded in 1999 after a series of crises rippled through the global economy, the G20 originally served as a platform for finance ministers and central bank governors to discuss the governance of an increasingly globalized world economy and promote financial stability.

During the global financial crisis in 2008, the G20 was elevated to a leaders level summit, and took swift, coordinated action was taken to rescue the global economy. Past G20 summits have resulted in landmark agreements including the creation of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in 2009.

In 2026, the US will chair the G20 for the first time since 2009. As the chair, the US is prioritizing three core themes: unleashing economic prosperity by limiting regulatory burdens, unlocking affordable and secure energy supply chains, and pioneering innovations in AI and emerging technologies.

 

 

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At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

Content

In the News

Sep 7, 2023

Lipsky quoted by the Associated Press on the upcoming G20 summit

Read the full piece here.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion G20

New Atlanticist

Sep 7, 2023

Will the G20 Summit help India become the voice of the Global South?

By Hung Tran

New Delhi has raised the prospect of G20 membership for the African Union, reform of global financial institutions, restructuring of sovereign debt, and additional climate financing.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

In the News

Sep 5, 2023

Lipsky quoted by Semafor on Xi’s absence from the New Delhi G20 summit

Read the full piece here.

China G20

In the News

Sep 1, 2023

Lipsky interviewed by the Financial Times on the implications of Xi’s absence for the G20

By Josh Lipsky

Read the full piece here.

China G20

New Atlanticist

Aug 8, 2023

Don’t count on the G20 to solve the world’s problems. But don’t count it out completely.

By Mark Linscott

The upcoming summit in India can focus on hammering out statements that move the needle in limited ways on health, trade, digital governance, and climate change.

Economy & Business G20

In the News

Aug 2, 2023

CBDC tracker and Kumar cited by the Elcano Royal Institute on the development of CBDCs worldwide

Read the full piece here.

China Digital Currencies

Econographics

Jul 27, 2023

The G20 still hasn’t made a breakthrough on sovereign debt restructuring

By Hung Tran

The G20's recent meeting failed to make progress on sovereign debt restructuring, disappointing low and middle-income countries. Zambia's deal favored China's preferences, revealing the challenges in establishing an equitable framework for debt relief.

Africa China

Econographics

Jul 12, 2023

Progress on debt restructuring provides a glimmer of hope for developing countries

By Jeremy Mark and Vasuki Shastry

As government and private-sector creditors finally take steps to restructure debt, questions remain over their readiness to meaningfully reduce debt burdens.

Africa China

Atlantic Debrief

Apr 27, 2023

#AtlanticDebrief – What’s the state of EU-US engagement with the Global South? | A Debrief with Dhruva Jaishankar

Rachel Rizzo sits down with Dhruva Jaishankar to discuss both areas of cooperation and obstacles to deeper transatlantic engagement with the Global South.

China Europe & Eurasia

Blog Post

Mar 13, 2023

State of the Order: Assessing February 2023

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Europe & Eurasia

Experts